Dephlegmator or fractionating column



L. C. HUFF DEPHLEGMATOR OR FRACTIONATING COLUMN Dec. 31, 1929.

Filed Deg. 10, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet z/entar 20 vertical sectional IPatented Dec. 31, 1929 PATENT OFFICE LYMAN C. am, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'I'O UNIVERSAL OIL PBODITCTS COI- PANY, O1 CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA DEPHLEGHA'I'OB OB FRACTIONATINGCOLUMN Application filed December 10, 1926. Serial No. 153,782.

The improvements of the present invention more particularly relate to ade hlegmator or fractionating column provide with spaced decks OD-WlllChare posltioned ejector nozzles so constructed that the vapors passingtherethrou h draw in li uid and elevate it to the top the nozzles, tereby effecting intlmate contact between the liquid and vapors andcreating circulation in the body of liquid on each deck.

It is of the utmost importance in the fractionation or dephlegmation ofhydrocarbon oil vapors, particularly that a maximum 1nt1- mate contacttake place between the 011 and vapors for the purpose of securingefiicient fractionation. The present inventlon has been designed toaccomplish this in a very effective manner.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a diagra-mmatlc view of a fractionating towerequipped with ejector devices accordin to the present inventlon.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical 7 sectional view of a sectionof a deck illustrating the construction of one type of ejector nozzle incombination with the liquid overflow pipe.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustratin a slightly diflerent formof ejector nozzle. ig. 5 is another view similar to Fig. 2 illustratingan ejector nozzle having a spaced cap portion.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, 1 designates the shell of adephlegmator or fractionating column which in the present instance, isillustrated as disposed in a vertical plane. This shell 1 is preferablymade of metal, and depending upon the capacity of the plant with whichit is used, may be from two to five feet in diameter more or less, andfrom twenty to thirty feet high more or less. Its upper end is closed bya removable top cap 2 in which cap is disposed a vapor outlet pipe 3which ma be controlled by a throttle valve (not shown A vapor inlet pipe4 in which may be interposed a throttle valve (not shown) is shown inthe lower portion of the shell 1, as is also a reflux condensate orllquid drawofi pipe 5 in which is interposed the valve 6.

Referring now more particularly to the structure comprising part of thepresent invention, throughout the height of the dephlegmator there areprovided superposed spaced decks or trays 7 supportedin any obviousmanner, for instance by lugs projecting from the inside wall of theshell. Each of these plates is provided with holes to receive the baseof the ejector nozzles designated as a whole 8, which ejector nozzlesproject upwardly from said plate and are supported thereby. Each ejectornozzle comprises an inner vapor conduit or passageway 9 defined by theWalls 10, which at their lower edge are provided with the flange orshoulder portions 11 for the purpose of being supported on the deck 7.Adjacent to and spaced from the exterior walls of the walls 10 are walls12 which define liquid passageways 13. These liquid passageways 13 andthe walls 12 as well as the walls 10 sweep or flare inwardly to theupper edge of conduit 9 where they meet in the space 14. The up er edgeof each ejector nozzle is preferably roadened out or provided with anenlarged surface for the purpose of-permitting a gradual overflow in theform of films and the like, rather than an abrupt overflow.

The operation of the ejector nozzle should be apparent from thedescription and the illustration shown in the drawings. Cooling liquidor reflux condensate, or both, is permitted to build up in a substantialbody as indicated by the letter A. (Fig. 2) on each deck 7. As thevapors sweep upwardly through the conduit 9 and exit into the space 14the force of these vapors will create in effeet a suction action in theliquid passageways 13, thus elevating liquid from the body A. throughthe passageways 13 and 14 to the top of the nozzle thereby effecting anintimate contact between the liquid and vapors and also creatingcirculation in the body of liquid on the plate. A liquid overflow pipe16 is provided for each deck 7. The upperedge of this overflow pipe 16is preferably maintained below the upper edge of the ejector nozzles 8for the purpose of preventing the liquid in body A. overflowing the topof the ejector nozzles and defeating the purpose t e invention. At theentrance to eac overflow pipe 16 is a shield or bafiie 17 disposed 1nspaced apart relation relative to the pipes 16 by the spiders or othersupporting element 18.. This baffle or shield 17 is provided to keep theliquid from splashin over into the overflow pipe 16 and also to raw oflliquid from the lower section of the liquid body. The bottom of theseoverflow pipes 16 preferably extends below the liquid level A. on thedeck below in order to form a liquid seal.

Perforated plates 19 may be provided between each deck above theIejector nozzles, the perforations being so arranged that imperforateportions are disposed immediately above the outlet from the ejectornozzles to divert the vapors and prevent channelin Cooling liquid may beintroduced throug either or both of the lines 20 and 21 in which areinterposed valves 23.. The arrangement is such that vapors ascend onlythrough the ejector nozzles. It is obvious that there may be any numberof these nozzles on a deck, and that there may be one or more overflowpipes of desired size.

As another feature of the present invention, the overflow or down pipe24 from the lower deck 7 extends well down into the reflux leg, and maydischarge into an inverted cap 25 in order to convey the liquid out ofthe zone of incoming vapors which enter through the pipe 4. It isdesirable that the liquid from the bottom tray be carried into thereflux leg without coming in direct contact with the incoming hotvapors, as it has been found that frequently the continuous rain ofreflux and cooling liquid coming in contact with the incomin vaporscauses an entrainment in said rain 0% lighter fractions of the vaporswhich necessarily have to be either removed before the reflux isreturned for retreatment, or retreated. It is to be understood ofcourse, that the openin s 13 may be placed either below the liquid develas illustrated, at the liquid level, or at any position under the liquidlevel. The ejector nozzle illustrated in Fig. 4 is similar in appearanceto ejector nozzle 8 illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, except that it ishigher and causes the liquid to be carried to a higher elevation. Inaddition, the outside surface of the nozzle is corrugated as illustratedat' 26 in order to expose the overflowing liquid to 3:016 surface toassist in liberating the light on The ejector nozzle illustrated in Fig.5'is of similar design to the nozzle illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, andin addition the spaced cap portion 27 is placed over the outlet inorder-to accomplish the same purpose as the imperforate portions of theplate 19. Where a nozzle of the ty e illustrated in Fig. 5 is used, itmay be ound desirable to dispense with plates 19. The cap 27 functionsto break the bination a shell having impact of the rising vapors andthrow the liquid particles which might be carried upwardly back into thebody of liquid;

It is tube understood that the dephlegmator of the present invention isadapted for use either under atmospheric, superatmospheric orsub-atmospheric pressure. It may be found desirable as illustrated inthe drawings, to position the overflow pipes 16 alternately on each sideof alternate decks.

I claim as my invention:

1. A. dephlegmator comprising in combination a shell having a vapor anda vapor outlet, a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, spaced superimposeddecks mounted in said shell, liquid overflow pipes for each deck havingportions projecting above the deck to permit the accumulation of bodiesof liquid on each deck, vapor passageways mounted on each deck, saidvapor passageways including a centrally positioned vapor conduit and asurrounding liquid conduit, said conduits merging into a commonpassageway at the upper part thereof, the lower end of said vaporconduit projecting through the associated deck, the lower end of thesurrounding li uid conduit terminating above the deck but be ow thelevel of the liquid accumulated thereon.

2. A dephleginator comprising in c0mbination a shell having a vaporinlet and a vapor outlet, :1 liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, spacedsuperimposed decks mounted in said shell, liquid overflow pipes for eachdeck having portions projecting abovethe deck to permit the accumulationof bodies of liquid on each deck, vapor passageways mounted on eachdeck, said vapor passageways including a centrally positioned vaporconduit and a surrounding liquid conduit, said conduits merging into acommon passageway at the upper part thereof, said common passagewayterminating above the level of the body of liquid accumulated on thedeck, the lower end of said vapor conduit projecting through theassociated deck, the lower end of the surrounding liquid conduitterminating above the deck but below the level of the liquid abcumulatedthereon.

3. A dephlegmator comprising in comvapor inlet and outlet openings, aliquid outlet from the lower portion of the shell, decks mounted in saidshell, liquid overflow pipes for each deck, said pipes being so arrangedthat a body of liquid is permitted to accumulate on each deck, a vaporconduit extending through and projecting above each deck, an annularliquid conduit surrounding said vapor conduit, said annular conduit andsaid vapor conduit merging at their upper portions into a singlepassageway, said single passageway projecting above the body of theliquid on the associated deck. the lower end spaced superimposed I ofsaid annular liquid conduit terminating above said deck but below thelevel of the body of liquid thereon.

4. A dephlegmator comprisin in combination a shell having a vapor in ctand outlet and a liquid inlet and outlet, spaced superimposed decksmounted in said shell, liquid overflow pipes for-each deck having aportion projecting above the deck to permit accumulation of liquidthereon, vapor passageways in each deck comprising ejector elementsforming separate vapor and liquid passageways merging in acommonvpassageway, the upper edge of each ejector being broadened out toprovide an enlarged surface for permitting a gradual overflow in theform of a film.

LYMAN C. HUFF.

